Why go to your death?
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Bob_Fett — 12 years ago(April 22, 2013 07:34 PM)
Because if you don't go, you will definitely be marked for death. If you do go, there's a chance that all they want is to talk to you after all.
When darkness overcomes the heart, Lil' Slugger appears
Regarding the last sentence? What do you mean?
Lefty went to his death because he was committed to La Cosa Nostra and was a man of honor as paradoxical as that sounds being that he was in the mafia. Where was he going to hide? He didn't have the money go on the lamb. -
Little_Korean — 12 years ago(April 25, 2013 08:01 AM)
Regarding the last sentence? What do you mean?
The 'When darkness' bit? Nothing, just a signature! (from the anime Paranoia Agent, in case you were wondering)
When darkness overcomes the heart, Lil' Slugger appears -
deveed — 12 years ago(April 25, 2013 11:51 AM)
Lefty went to his death because he was committed to La Cosa Nostra and was a man of honor as paradoxical as that sounds being that he was in the mafia.
You know it does seem like a paradox calling in the 'honor' code but I'd think the
Mafia no doubt usually rode on 'honor' since how else was anything going to get get done right? I don't know how Pistone ever did his job when being around with Lefty. If there's a paradox, it's kind of like the 'law' guy doing 'behind the back' things (being 'less honorable') on the bad guy who trusts him and takes him into his confidence. That has to tear apart individuals in a position like that especially if you have a relationship. And it was interesting to see Lefty not going crazy when he found out Pistone was a plant. Looks to me he was pretty realistic there. He knows how life can sometimes play out when it comes to betrayals and it didn't surprise him. -
cabal24 — 12 years ago(May 20, 2013 12:19 PM)
This rule goes back to the beginning. This was one of the originals that Charlie Lucky and the rest of his guys put together. Up until these rules, there was just a series of gangs that were constantly squabbling with each other over turf, money and personal vendettas.
Among these rules were
you always have to report when you are called
you never use violence against a made man without permission
you never commit adultry with a made mans wife
Italians only
No facial hair
And there were a few others. These rules were designed to keep control so they could be profitable instead of constantly fighting which was terrible for business. The reporting thing was done so bosses could call in their underlings without having to go search for them. Violation of this meant an immediate death sentence. They called them for everything from putting a hit on them to telling them to go get me a doughnut.
Remember, these are street thugs. Smarter street thugs created these rules. -
eunos735 — 12 years ago(June 26, 2013 04:05 AM)
"Exactly. And the "no facial hair" rule was so that the Luciano-era Cosa Nostra could set themselves apart and appear more Americanized than the older generation of Mafiosi, known derisively as "Mustache Petes," who all came of age in Sicily and Southern Italy."
This is somewhat true. The "No facial hair rule" as you call it was more symbolic than an attempt to appear "Americanized." There was a saying "No whiskers, only rats have whiskers." I think the directors did a GREAT job of blending this into the movie. In the beginning Donnie has a mustache and Lefty tells him to get rid of it. I thought this was a brilliant foreshadowing and a show that the directors did take their time to really research this culture well beyond what is known in "pop culture" -
ladydesdemonna — 12 years ago(July 08, 2013 09:44 AM)
The rule about no facial hair is interesting. To go slightly off topic - a few people mentioned Sonny didn't have enough money to go on the lam. Why not? Aren't made men paid well for their "services"?
If you can't stand the heat in the kitchen turn off the stove -
cabal24 — 12 years ago(July 12, 2013 06:13 AM)
Its an interesting thing about mobsters. Most are broke and they just live score to score. SO they get a bunch of cash all at once, live high, blow through it and are broke again. The real Lefty was no different. He was a huge gambler and he was really bad at it too. There was even a little part of the book where he owed a bunch of money and it affected him getting made.
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schumithecat — 12 years ago(April 01, 2014 11:05 AM)
the movie shows how everyone has to pay the people above them. it is the guys at the very top who do well, the other guys have to always be passing much of their money up to their superiors. if a guy's schemes don't do well, the guy doesn't bring in any money. if his schemes do well, he has to share most of the money with his superiors.
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MIJACology — 12 years ago(July 28, 2013 10:32 PM)
Actually if you go back before the Luciano Era, the rule of having to report in when called probably pre-existed him in some form. How could a soldier in the old Mafia not come in when called by a Mustache?
Also, it wasn't Italians only. It was Sicilians only.
Big difference.
Sicilians made up the core of the original old Mafia.
For example, up until the reign of John Gotti, Neopolitans were not even allowed to be made Capos in the Gambino Family.
Carlo was Sicilian.
When Gotti was Boss, a Sicilian Capo named Antonino (Nino) Gaggi commanded him to appear before him at a meeting. Obviously Nino being a cousin of Paul Castellano (another Sicilian) did not approve of the Neapolitan Gotti taking over the Sicilian Gambino Family without Commission approval. Nino died in prison and was never able to fulfill his desire to take over the Gambino Family from Gotti as he (Nino) represented the old Sicilian establishment.
After Luciano, all Italians were recognized by Sicilians as eligible to become mafia members. Luciano's predecessors did not trust, nor want to associate with, Non Sicilians. -
spookyrat1 — 12 years ago(December 10, 2013 04:38 AM)
He has no way of getting out. No money. His entire life was all about the Mob all the time and nothing else.
HE wanted to die like a real mobster.
I think one of the real strengths of the film is it successfully demonstrates that for mobsters like Lefty and Sunny the Mafia was seen as almost a vocation in life. A call to a sit down meeting therefore is almost acknowledged as the natural completion of a cycle. -
Getoboy730 — 12 years ago(August 06, 2013 03:14 PM)
They also woulda killed Lefty's family if he fled. As stated Lefty didn't die. And the hit was called off because Lefty knowingly headed to his apparent death to his never talked. Never giving up his oath. They say he loved being a wiseguy and took the good with the bad. Hell, he (somewhat)fearlessy went to what he thought would be a hit on him early on. Lefty had balls.
Sonny Black took his hit like a man. And Anthony Mirra was killed a year later by his own cousin on the orders of Joey Massino. They is little mention of him though. The movie leaves him out, or he's Paulie.
Embrace Debate. -
Richie-67-485852 — 12 years ago(September 09, 2013 02:30 PM)
Richie PEARLS SERIES author
If you don't go, they wipe you and your family outThere is no love and honor among murderers, thieves and robbersPlus the people they send to take you out make their bones doing soThe cycle feeds itself. -
Getoboy730 — 12 years ago(November 01, 2013 11:20 PM)
If you don't go, they wipe you and your family outThere is no love and honor among murderers, thieves and robbersPlus the people they send to take you out make their bones doing soThe cycle feeds itself
Exactly, so it isn't a Hollywood ending, Sonny and Lefty both went to their deaths, but Lefty was intercepted by the feds and went to jail on the way.
Embrace Debate. -
Mattfinbell — 12 years ago(November 01, 2013 11:23 PM)
Getoboy730
If you don't go, they wipe you and your family outThere is no love and honor among murderers, thieves and robbersPlus the people they send to take you out make their bones doing soThe cycle feeds itself
Exactly, so it isn't a Hollywood ending, Sonny and Lefty both with to their deaths, but Lefty went to jail on the way.
Oh yeah it is a hollywood ending.
Oh Lefty died in prison! Sonny was murdered and Pistone is still in hiding